20161025 Ok… Time For A Serious Discussion Wit

Keith I Myers – 2016-10-25 15:37:24-0400 – Updated: 2016-10-25 15:37:24-0400Ok… time for a serious discussion with all of my Android friends. With all of the talk outlining the differences between Google’s ill fated Nexus line and the Pixel line (exclusive features/etc) – there is a red headed step-child that no one is really talking much about – The Pixel C.

Is this a Nexus or is this a Pixel?

Any pixel owner should know that the Pixel C tablet is both an amazing tablet and half-baked. In the Reddit AMA with the Pixel Team, they said they have more in store for this tablet however something tells me that the future is grim for it as it currently seems to share more in common with the Nexus than a Pixel.

There are several traits that the Pixel C does share with the Pixel Phones-The “Pixel” Name-The fact that the branding on the tablet is solely Google’s (the manufacturer would stamp their name on the Nexus phones/tablets)-The amazing hardware-Still on sale in the Google Store (the Nexus 5X and 6P are no longer on sale through Google)-Runs Android (previous Pixel’s ran ChromeOS)-Fast OTAs-Pure version of Android

There are several traits however that are NOT shared-Seamless Updates-Google Assistant-Unlimited Photo Upload at Full Quality-Daydream Support – honestly not upset about this one as strapping a Pixel C to your face seems silly.

Assistant will come to the Pixel C, but seamless updates are sort of impossible. Those updates require some work in the background that could very easily cause a bricked tablet via OTA. I’m sure Google could release a tool to do it via a PC, but I doubt they will.Keith I Myers – 2016-10-25 15:54:03-0400+Jason Kruger – While I think a dual boot feature would be cool, I would like to see a 128 GB – 256 GB version of the Pixel C before as Dual Booting would take up a lot of space.Keith I Myers – 2016-10-25 15:55:24-0400 – Updated: 2016-10-25 15:56:00-0400+Ben Schoon – I would agree that the seamless updates would be risky in the event something goes wrong but I would not mind a fastboot image to allow a user to convert it if they wished.

I am also offended that you do not use a tablet as your primary camera 🙂Philip Sieder – 2016-10-25 15:58:33-0400I don’t see most of the mentioned differences as any statement to what category the Pixel C belongs:Seamless Updates are simply not possible without repartitioningGoogle Assistant is not more than a beta product at it probably misses a tablet interface too 😉Daydream has nothing to do with Pixel, as other OEMs can implement it and as you said, it makes absolutely no sense for a 10″ deviceThe free storage is simply something I guess tehy only include with new devices as it would kind of cost money and it is not that interesting with a tablet

What in my opinion are the points that means Pixel C is not treated as a Pixel, is the missing brand color in the OS and at least the option to install the Pixel Launcher (Google never changed a default app for a core system functionality (see Browser to Chrome, SMS to Hangouts to Messenger, Launcher to Google Now Launcher)Keith I Myers – 2016-10-25 16:01:50-0400+Philip Sieder – In the current state, the Google assistant is a beta project but it is a game changer for me, especially as I plan to get a Google Home. There is a lot of potential in future releases.Roberto Mezquia Jr – 2016-10-25 16:04:07-0400+Keith I Myers OT, do you use Allo? I just texted you on there… I wanted to ask you something 😇Keith I Myers – 2016-10-25 16:05:17-0400+Roberto Mezquia Jr – Indeed, just responded.Philip Sieder – 2016-10-25 16:09:31-0400+Keith I Myers I see that, but Assistant is not meant to be Pixel exclusive forever, so it will definitely come to the Pixel C at some point.For now I would much prefer the old google app over the Assistant I am forced to use now 😉Josh Brown – 2016-10-25 16:17:56-0400Not sure if seamless updates is possible on the Pixel C. A lot of that has to do with how the drive is formatted at the factory.Keith I Myers – 2016-10-25 16:21:14-0400+Josh Brown it can be repartitioned from the bootloader. Not something all users would do however the Pixel C is also not a tablet all users would buyJosh Brown – 2016-10-25 16:25:58-0400+Keith I Myers At the very least it would require a factory reset, which most current users wouldn’t likely want to do.Jordan VanCampen – 2016-10-25 18:13:29-0400The seamless updates would be neat on the pixel, but it doesn’t seem like its a big deal that it doesn’t have it. At least with Nougat going forward, the update process is a lot smoother. The update on my 5x from 7.0 to 7.1 was pretty quick now that the dreaded “android is upgrading” screen is no longer a thing.